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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving Day
“I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thanksgiving is an essential expression of our worship and prayer as Orthodox Christians. When we gather in our parishes and when we direct our minds and hearts toward God seeking His guidance, we offer our deepest gratitude to Him for His love and the gift of salvation. We do this through praise of His greatness, through words and exclamations of honor that magnify His glory, and through actions of respect, which show the reverent state of our hearts.
In fulfilling the divine call to live in holiness, thanksgiving becomes a visible witness of God’s indwelling power and presence. Our hearts are filled with gratitude because our souls, our minds, indeed, all of our being is aware of and committed to the will of God. Our complete faith in His wisdom and in the knowledge of the truth gives us an experience and perspective of life that accentuates the blessings and the hope of salvation. We are grateful for what was, what is, and what will come because we know that our lives are in the hands of our Creator.
This assurance that comes from faith is reflected in thanksgiving, in all moments of our earthly lives. While we all encounter moments of difficulty or even times of crisis in our lives; as people of faith, our response is not one of despair, hopelessness, or sorrow. Rather, we face the challenges of life by placing our complete trust in God, by acknowledging His love for us, and by magnifying Him with thanksgiving, to paraphrase the Psalmist quoted above.
We are reminded of this and of the deeper, spiritual relevance of thanksgiving as we celebrate a very traditional and beloved holiday of our great American nation, Thanksgiving Day. On this day people from across the land gather with family and friends in a spirit of love and fellowship, sharing in life and happiness, and offering thanks to God for His blessings and innumerable gifts. Many will show their gratitude by reaching out to those in need through offering gifts of food or by serving a meal. These are very beautiful expressions of love and gratitude which are entirely consistent with our identity as Orthodox Christians, expressions which this wonderful holiday emphasizes so clearly.
On this Thanksgiving Day, it is my fervent prayer that the blessings of our Lord be upon all of you as you gather in love and fellowship to offer gratitude to God for all that we have as Orthodox Christians, who are blessed to live in the United States of America. May His infinite love and perfect peace be with you on this day and always as we praise His most magnificent name and as we come together to give thanks for His abundant blessings.
With paternal love in Christ,
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
Tel: (212) 570-3556 Fax: (212) 774-0237
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email:
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20081124 - cwnews.com - Pope Benedict XVI said that he is "saddened by the escalation of persecution and violence against Christians in parts of the Middle East and elsewhere," as he met on November 24 with the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church in that region. The Pontiff told Catholics Aram I of Cilicia that Christian unity could help to end that injustice, among others. "The united voice and the common witness of the Church in a polarized world is the call of Christ, which is more imperative and urgent today than ever before," he said.
Pope Benedict told the Armenian prelate that he hoped the latest theological talks between representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox churches would "clarify theological issues which have divided us in the past but now appear open to greater consensus." The Armenian Apostolic Church dates back to the year 506, when the Christian leaders of Armenia broke away from the Catholic Church over disagreements with the doctrines put forth by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Those theological disputes have been largely resolved, and in 1996 the worldwide leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin I, joined Pope John Paul II in a common statement of faith, putting the Christological disputes between their two churches to rest. A joint theological commission is now seeking common solutions to other remaining theological differences.
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Chicago - 20081119 - Commissioner Frank Avila of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago presented the Excellence in Protecting our Water Environment Award to Father Thomas Loya of the Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in recognition of exceptional leadership in religion and environment. Father Loya and his congregation have become a leader in environmental stewardship in their community by creating a “church in a natural environment – a living land that grows with the people who care for it and love it.”
The Annunciation Parish has used such innovative techniques as cleansing biotopes, green roofs, permeable paving, rainwater recycling systems, photovoltaics, geothermal systems, and habitat restoration to construct a home for their church that is integrated into, and grows along with, the natural environment. The Parish uses a number of “green” approaches in their landscaping, structures, and facilities. By collecting rainwater for use in running water features, irrigation, and natural system replenishment, the Parish has nearly eliminated the negative impact of surface water run-off and has instead used the water as a positive resource. The Parish also hopes to, over time, generate the energy used on the grounds from renewable sources such as the wind and sun.
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In the beginning of their talk, Bishop Mercury, speaking on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia and Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, offered warm congratulations to the newly-elected Primate of the Orthodox Church in America as he has been called to the lofty and important service of the Church of Christ. His Grace Mercury conveyed to His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah a congratulatory message from His Holiness and a letter of greetings from Metropolitan Kirill and a bouquet of flowers from the staff of the Moscow Patriarchate Representation in the USA.
Metropolitan Johan thanked his guest for the messages and, on his part, asked Bishop Mercury to convey his assurances of brotherly love with a request for their holy prayers to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Kirill.
Then they had a prolonged talk about prospects for the development of joint service for the Church of Christ in North America. His Beatitude stressed in particular that it was impossible to build a future without taking account of the past and expressed hope that the Russian Orthodox Church as Mother Church, along with other Orthodox Churches, would take a prayerful participation in overcoming the existing disorders.
Bishop Mercury, on his part, said that the Moscow Patriarchate Representation in the USA would exert every effort for developing further the good cooperation with the Orthodox Church in America in all the proposed areas.
They were joined in their talk by Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, the Orthodox Church in America’s Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations, and Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, and Archpriest Erick G. Tosi, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America.
DECR Communication Service
Source: www.mospat.ru
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Related to Authority, Sacramental Nature of the Church
WASHINGTON (20081107) —The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation examined the international dialogue's "Ravenna Document" and continued its study of primacies and synodality in the Church at its 75th meeting, October 23-25, at the Manoir d'Youville in Chateauguay, Quebec. The meeting was chaired jointly by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati and Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh.
At the meeting the Consultation continued to examine the most recent document of the international Catholic-Orthodox dialogue, "Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority," also known as the Ravenna Document. An analysis of the text from an Orthodox perspective was provided by Father John Erickson of St. Vladimir's Seminary and from a Catholic perspective by Sister Susan K. Wood, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, from Marquette University. The Consultation plans to issue its own reaction to the Ravenna Document.
The Consultation also discussed key events in their churches, including the relations between the two Romanian Orthodox jurisdictions in North America, the withdrawal of the Jerusalem Patriarchate from North America, the recent Synod of Bishops in Rome in which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew participated, the situation in the Orthodox Church in America, the Clergy-Laity Conference of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the upcoming plenary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the recent plenary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). In addition, Father Paul McPartlan reported on the meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church on Crete September 27-October 4.
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Protocol 106/08
November 8, 2008
Feast of the Synaxis of
The Holy Archangels
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I communicate to you with joy on the festive occasion of the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels, which our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates on November 8 of each year. This day is one for all of us to be conscious of the very real and active presence that God’s holy angels have in our lives. The Epistle to the Hebrews describes the holy angels as “ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation” (1:14). Our Holy Tradition, following this understanding of Scripture, teaches that each of us is assigned a guardian angel at the moment of our baptism to protect and watch over us throughout our life on earth.
In keeping with this understanding of the protection that the holy angels provide to all of us throughout life, our Holy Archdiocese has made it a priority to provide for the physical, psychological, and spiritual care of our senior Greek Orthodox faithful who are in need. This is made possible through the important ministry that is offered by Saint Michael's Home, our senior adult home in New York, which is appropriately named after the Archangel Michael, whom we commemorate on this day. This year, as we celebrate this Feast, we are doubly blessed to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of Saint Michael’s Home. This auspicious occasion allows us to reflect upon the tremendous accomplishments that Saint Michael’s has achieved since its founding, and the great opportunities that lie ahead for the Home as it works to expand its capacity and its level of care for its residents.
Over the past 50 years, people have come to reside at Saint Michael’s Home from places far and wide. Though most of its residents traditionally hail from the New York Tri-State region (NY, NJ, and CT), Saint Michael’s Home has provided a place of comfort to Greek Orthodox Christians from faraway states and even from other countries. Presently, the Home is staffed with capabilities to provide for assisted living to its nearly 60 residents. In its expansion plans, the Home hopes to be able to offer care to those who have greater medical needs. Perhaps what is most extraordinary about Saint Michael’s Home is that throughout its half-century existence, its operating expenses have been largely covered by the generous donations from you, the faithful of our Archdiocese.
In view of its 50th year anniversary and expansion plans, and with my warm expressions of thanks for your past and consistent generosity, I invite you all to consider giving to the Home generously this year so that Saint Michael’s Home can continue to function as a very special and sacred institution of our Archdiocese. Your contributions may be made payable to Saint Michael’s Home and sent to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In contributing to the Home, you will be significantly aiding our Church in providing care to the elders of our community whom we love deeply, and who are continuously being protected by the myriad of angelic beings of God.
On this Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels, I ask that you keep all the residents of the Home in your prayers, along with their families, and the directors, board, staff, and volunteers of Saint Michael’s Home, all of whom make the Home a place of dignity and one that affirms the importance of community in Christ. May the divine protection of the Holy Archangels be with us always, and may they inspire us to grow in our commitment to minister unto others who are in need of the love and saving grace of Almighty God.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
Tel: (212) 570-3556 Fax: (212) 774-0237
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: